Herbarium Research Associate

Job Description

About the Role

Reporting to the Associate Director of Botanical Collections, Conservation and Research, the Herbarium Research Associate will focus on activating an ethnobotanical collection focused on Chinese Medicinal Plants, through making vouchers, compiling information, digitizing specimens and label data, and assisting with making the entire herbarium collection more accessible to wider audiences. This position collaborates with other staff and volunteers within the Botanical Division.

This is a limited-term, part-time position, budgeted for six months.

Duties & Responsibilities

Essential Duties

Prepare specimen vouchers from living plant material

Curate existing specimens and improve the quality of data captured in database for select taxonomic and geographic plant groups

Create synoptic collection of Chinese Medicinal Plants within larger herbarium with traditional plant uses documented in database

Work with botanical staff to develop a database that houses the ethnobotanical information associated with each plant specimen

Work with botanical staff and volunteers to develop digital resources that document the Chinese Medicinal Plant collection

Support and initiate further research that maximizes the potential of the herbarium

Participate in long term planning of the herbarium, positioning its usefulness within the institution

Other Related Work:

Assists with interpretation labelling in Chinese Medicinal Plant display

Assists with data entry or adding metadata to the images of herbarium specimens

Support the gathering and archiving of useful information on natural history, cultivated history, conservation status, and economic value of specimens in the herbarium

Working Conditions

Will primarily work indoors

Must be able to stand for long periods, stoop, bend, lift up to 30 lbs

Education and Experience

Candidate Requirements and Experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Minimum of a Master’s degree in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or related field

Demonstrated research experience in botany

Knowledge and experience in plant identification

Demonstrated knowledge of curatorial best practices in herbaria

Ability to work in a greenhouse, field, and office settings

Ability to communicate with different audiences, including writing and technical skills, to develop interpretive material, manuals, and working documents

Demonstrated willingness to collaborate and work as part of a team

Ability to analyze problems and make recommendations

Experience

Minimum of ten years of botanical research experience

Demonstrated ability to work effectively and cooperatively in a team environment

Excellent organizational and communication skills

Application Instructions

The Application Process
Visit us at https://huntington.org/careers to apply directly.
Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment.
You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application.